Twenty-one former cricket captains, including Sir Alastair Cook and Mike Atherton, have urged Pakistan's government to guarantee humane treatment and timely, independent medical care for jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
Key facts
- Twenty-one cricket captains have urged Pakistan to provide Imran Khan with proper medical care, according to Al Jazeera.
- Signatories include Sir Alastair Cook and Mike Atherton, according to Sky News.
- The former captains called for a court-ordered medical assessment to be honoured, describing compliance as 'basic decency', according to the BBC.
- The appeal was directed at Prime Minister Sharif's government, according to Al Jazeera.
A group of former international cricket captains has called on the Pakistani government to ensure that jailed former prime minister Imran Khan receives humane treatment and proper medical care in prison.
According to Al Jazeera, 21 cricket captains have requested that Prime Minister Sharif’s government ensure Khan is given timely and independent medical care.
Sky News reported that the signatories include Sir Alastair Cook and Mike Atherton, who joined calls urging Pakistan to guarantee ‘humane treatment and proper medical care’ for the imprisoned former leader.
The former skippers said it is ‘basic decency’ for Pakistan to comply with a court-ordered medical assessment, according to the BBC.
Khan, himself a former cricket captain before entering politics and going on to become prime minister, is currently jailed. The appeal from his former sporting peers focuses specifically on his access to medical evaluation and care while in custody.
The intervention brings together prominent figures from the international cricket community in a public appeal to Pakistan’s authorities.
Why it matters
Imran Khan is a former cricket star turned prime minister, and appeals from fellow captains draw international attention to his treatment in custody. The calls highlight questions over whether Pakistan will comply with a court-ordered medical assessment for a high-profile jailed politician.
Frequently asked questions
Who has called for Imran Khan to receive proper medical care?
According to Al Jazeera, 21 former cricket captains have made the appeal. Sky News reported that the signatories include Sir Alastair Cook and Mike Atherton.
What are the former captains asking for?
They are urging Pakistan to ensure Khan receives humane treatment and timely, independent medical care, and to comply with a court-ordered medical assessment, which the BBC reported they described as 'basic decency'.
Who is the appeal directed at?
According to Al Jazeera, the request was directed at Prime Minister Sharif's government.